🦷 DANB CDA
Pass the DANB CDA Exam.
Dental Assisting Prep helps you focus on DANB CDA exam topics: General Chairside Assisting, Radiation Health and Safety, Infection Control, and tooth-numbering systems. Start with the free web study guide, then unlock full web access when you are ready.
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Dental Assistant DANB Exam Prep
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Download your free DANB CDA study guide PDF — key formulas, reference tables, and exam topics.
Download Free Study Guide →DANB CDA Exam Format
The DANB Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) credential is earned by passing three component exams. Taken together they total 245 questions in 195 minutes. Each component is scored separately on a scaled range of 100–900, and you need a scaled score of at least 400 to pass each one. Exams are computer-adaptive (CAT), so the questions adjust to your performance.
| Component | Questions | Time | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Chairside Assisting (GC) | 95 | 75 min | Chairside procedures, dental materials, anatomy, patient care |
| Radiation Health & Safety (RHS) | 75 | 60 min | Exposing, processing & evaluating radiographs; radiation safety |
| Infection Control (ICE) | 75 | 60 min | Sterilization, asepsis, CDC/OSHA standards, disease transmission |
| CDA total | 245 | 195 min | All three components, taken together |
Component question counts and times verified against DANB's official exam pages (danb.org), June 2026. You can also take the GC, RHS, and ICE component exams in cost-saving pairs (RHS/ICE or RHS/GC). DANB does not publish per-component pass rates; because exams use computer-adaptive scoring, the average exam-taker answers roughly half the questions correctly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DANB CDA exam?
The DANB CDA (Certified Dental Assistant) exam is administered by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) and consists of three components: Radiation Health and Safety (RHS), Infection Control (ICE), and General Chairside Assisting (GC). Each component is taken separately and scored on a scaled range of 100–900, with a scaled score of at least 400 required to pass each one. Many states accept DANB CDA as the standard dental assistant credential.
How hard is the DANB exam?
DANB does not publish per-component pass rates, so any specific percentage you see online is an estimate. The exams are scored using computer-adaptive testing (CAT) on a scaled range of 100–900, with a scaled score of 400 required to pass each component — so whether you pass depends on the difficulty of the questions you answer correctly, not a fixed percentage. DANB notes the average exam-taker answers roughly half the questions correctly. Most candidates prepare for 4–8 weeks of focused study after their dental assistant program, and many prep resources consider Infection Control (ICE) the most challenging component because of its highly specific regulatory content.
Do I need the DANB to work as a dental assistant?
Requirements vary by state. Some states require DANB certification or a state-specific credential to work as a dental assistant; others have no formal requirement. Regardless, DANB certification significantly improves job prospects and starting pay. Many dental offices require or strongly prefer CDA-credentialed assistants.
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Free guide opens in your browser. Native iOS and Android apps are separate purchases for offline mobile study.